Like others entering the race now for the 5th Hampden District seat, Hobert’s candidacy depends on asking voters to write in his name on the ballot.

That’s because of the passage of the May 1 deadline to get on the ballot by filing nomination papers with names of registered voters and because as of May 1, former Democratic incumbent Michael F. Kane was still a candidate for reelection.

But Kane quit the seat for another job June 8.

Hobert said he recently was laid off from Jerry Rome Nissan, in West Springfield, and has been in the business of sales since 1984. He works part-time at Power Quality Solutions, of Glastonbury, Conn., selling energy saving devices, he said.

“I understand how ‘the game’ works down in Boston and have worked behind the scenes on various local campaigns since ‘75,” Hobert said.

A divorced father of two daughters, Hobert said his campaign will be about issues like expanding the tax base and not mud slinging.

“We’ve got a lot to offer as a ‘pro-business’ town of opportunity and again, my job is to sell the city,” Hobert said.